Paul Lynch

The main shopping street in Northampton will be closed while the town’s former bus station is demolished and a ‘large dust cloud’ is set to be thrown up as the building collapses, latest information has revealed.

Today Northampton Borough Council has revealed more details on the ‘safety zone’ which will be set up to keep people away from the demolition site on Sunday, March 15.

Unfortunately the position of the surrounding buildings means there will be no good vantage points to watch the demolition.

David Mackintosh

It has announced that a number of roads will be closed on the day including the town’s main shopping street, Abington Street, as well as Albert Street, Wellington Street, Greyfriars, Lady’s Lane, part of Sheep Street, Newland and Victoria Street.

A spokesperson for the council also said that the demolition process will also “create a large dust cloud.”

“The exclusion zone has been set to contain much of the cloud as well as keep people safely back from the demolition,” the spokesperson continued.

Street sweepers are set to move in to clear up the area immediately after the building is collapsed.

The council has also announced that the North Gate bus station will remain open on the day, with services stopping ‘briefly’ when Greyfriars is ‘blown down’.

Coach services will be redirected to use The Drapery.

However the exact time of the demolition is not yet known as contractors DSM Demolition, will need to be sure the exclusion zone is cleared before the demolition.

A map of the exclusion zone, which encompasses 414 properties, is available on www.northampton.gov.uk/greyfriars.

The exclusion zone will be in place by 8am, and anyone living within it evacuated from 8am also.

Letters have been sent to all residents and businesses in the zone to explain what the arrangements will be on the day.

Businesses within the zone, which includes the Grosvenor Centre, will be closed, but will be able to open as soon as the demolition is complete, the council says, and the all-clear given.